Holden Defends Hiring of Colleagues

As his office was peppered with calls from angry constituents, Los Angeles City Councilman Nate Holden on Wednesday defended his decision to place two termed-out colleagues on the public payroll at a monthly cost of $7,600.

Mike Hernandez and Rudy Svorinich Jr., who left office on June 30 and were prevented by term limits from running again, will serve as Holden’s part-time consultants on a variety of issues, including transportation and housing matters.

The former councilmen each will be paid about $1,900 every two weeks, until they find new jobs. The pay will be retroactive to July 1.

“That’s peanuts,” Holden told reporters after the council meeting. He added that he will not pay the men unless they perform.

“Let me tell you something: Nate Holden’s a tough taskmaster,” Holden said. “The city will benefit from their years of experience.”

But others were skeptical, since the council members had only limited experience in the areas in which they will serve Holden.

“When did Mike Hernandez become an expert on housing and when did Rudy become an expert on transportation?” asked Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas.

Robert M. Stern, who heads the Center for Governmental Studies, said Holden should be required to provide the public with details of how the former council members are spending their time.

“Certainly, the important thing to stress is, are they really going to earn their money?” Stern said. “Time charts would be an important way of tracking that.”

According to one of Holden’s aides, the councilman’s staff had been fielding numerous calls from angry constituents who accused Holden of misusing taxpayer funds.

Holden appeared taken aback by the criticism.

“To get these guys at what we offered them is a bargain,” Holden said. “This is a matter of giving them an opportunity to show their stuff. I can’t think of any two people who are more qualified.”

Svorinich said Tuesday morning that he had no idea that Holden had hired him. But Holden suggested Wednesday that Svorinich had simply forgotten.

“I talked to him after that and he said, ‘Oh yeah, I thought you were joking,’ ” Holden said.

Holden said Hernandez, who has headed the council’s Community and Economic Development Committee, will counsel him on housing issues. Svorinich, who was in charge of the council’s Transportation Committee, will give advice on matters involving the taxi industry and the Alameda Corridor.

Most City Hall insiders were unwilling to criticize Holden, and some even privately praised him.

A staff member for Mayor James K. Hahn--who was strongly supported by Holden--said the new mayor would not comment.

City Controller Laura Chick said she believed the hirings were legal. However, Chick said she will conduct an audit if she hears that the former councilmen are receiving paychecks without actually providing the city with a valuable service.

“If there is a need to formally look at it, I will,” Chick said. “At this point, there’s no reason to.”